Time has healed Mike McCabe's injured left hip and given him an appreciation of what it's like to be a pro football player, even if it was only for a moment.

On the eve of this year's NFL Draft, McCabe, 24, hasn't ruled out a return to the NFL, although no teams have inquired about signing him nearly eight months after he underwent surgery for an injury sustained last July at the Green Bay Packers' training camp.

At the time, the Packers placed him on the injured reserve list, meaning he would remain with the team for the remainder of the year. But weeks later, when another high-salaried player was put on IR, the Packers needed to clear room against the salary cap and came to an injury settlement with McCabe.

The former Taft School and College of Holy Cross offensive lineman came to grips with that decision and has adjusted to time away from football.

"There are far worse things that can happen than getting hurt in an NFL training camp," said McCabe on Monday. "A lot of times I have to remind myself of how lucky I was to even have the opportunity to begin with, considering where I came from. Playing in the NFL was never my goal. I definitely have a new appreciation for how good the guys are in that league."

Still, it eats at him a bit that he'll never know how good he could have been.

"If I wasn't good enough, that would be one thing. But by getting hurt, I'll never really know my fate. It was unfortunate for me," he said. "Things happened so rapidly. One day my parents said that I probably needed to start looking for an apartment (in Green Bay), and then Eliot Wolf (the Packers' pro player personnel director) called me to give me a settlement."

Reality set in.

"If the NFL kept guys on the roster for making a good impression and being likable, I'd be in a good spot," said McCabe. "The Packers treated me very well, better than I could have imagined. But I know that it is a business first. I understand that 100 percent. "

Not only was he out of a job, but he had to deal with a complicated injury, which was sustained during a one-on-one drill. McCabe had arthroscopic surgery, which was performed by Dr. Thomas Byrd at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.

"There was a lot of damage, with bone chips in the joint, a labrum tear and cartilage tear," said McCabe. "Originally, I thought it would heal on its own, but I knew the doctor, one of the top hip specialists in the country, would not steer me in the wrong direction."

McCabe returned to his comfort zone at his parents' Watertown home to begin his six-month rehabilitation.

He is now fully healthy and wonders if a team will take a risk on someone who had been injured.

"I guess you can say I'll be waiting by the phone," he said. "Last year, I was constantly on the computer before the draft and studying up on teams, but this time around I haven't done any of that. I couldn't even tell you who are the projected first-rounders."

He also hasn't called any teams. That includes ex-UConn player John Dorsey, the Packers' former director of player personnel who is now the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. It was Dorsey who kept tabs on McCabe all last year and ultimately signed him.

He also hasn't called one of his former college coaches at Holy Cross, Richard Rogers, now the special teams coordinator with the Carolina Panthers. Rogers and Carolina head coach Ron Rivera were college teammates.

Rogers' best friend, Mark McDonough, happens to be McCabe's brother-in-law. McDonough, the defensive coordinator at Ithaca College, is married to McCabe's sister, Katie.

"I don't want to be pushy and go to every length and use every possible connection," said McCabe. "If a team really wants me, they will give me an opportunity. I want it to be a genuine, honest opportunity. I don't want it to be a favor to someone."

He also wants a fair shot at making a team's 53-player roster and doesn't want to be brought in just so a team can add another offensive lineman to training camp.

"If I had a chance of making the team or the practice squad, it's something that I would have to seriously consider," he said.

Miami, Houston, Seattle and Atlanta all had shown interest in McCabe last year. This time, McCabe is not considered a rookie, so he's not on any draft board. He'd have to be signed as a free agent.

Should he not sign with another team, McCabe is preparing for life without football, considering work in education, sports management or the strength and conditioning field.

"If I didn't play anymore, it wouldn't be the end of the world," he said.

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